Minute man Erik hurts Jose
THE highest ever Premier League crowd watched the thirdfastest Premier League goal but it was not so much records that were shattered as perceptions.
Tottenham, who are supposed to be found out whenever they play their really strong peers, started a month that contains games against Liverpool, Newport, Arsenal and Juventus by edging in front against United after just 11 seconds.
Meanwhile 81,978 fans in the ground were left scratching their heads as Jose Mourinho forced Marouane Fellaini to suffer the ignominy of being taken off just seven minutes after coming on as a substitute and few would have blamed him for marching straight down the Wembley tunnel. It was bizarre behaviour from a United manager who is supposedly in a much happier place since he put pen to paper on a new contract and landed No 1 target Alexis Sanchez.
No wonder Mauricio Pochettino had the broader grin as the pair shook hands at the final whistle.
While the transfer window flapped for its final hours elsewhere, welcoming back Christian Eriksen after he sat out two disappointing draws with illness was almost like signing a new player.
His impact was certainly immediate, turning the ball past a stunned David De Gea in the opening minute after Harry Kane outjumped Phil Jones to get on the end of Jan Vertonghen’s punt forward and Dele Alli had swept a mishit shot in his direction off the legs of Chris Smalling.
The only genuine new signing on show was of course not going to be a popular one in these parts – Sanchez’s previous allegiance with Arsenal not forgotten even though he was now in the red of Manchester United.
The Chile international arrived at Wembley with an impeccable record under the giant arch – five wins out of five in various FA Cup and Community Shield matches and victory here with Chile before he had ever signed for the Gunners.
The United line-up was slightly alien – Nemanja Matic sitting in a pivotal role in front of the back four so that Mourinho could stretch out his attacking option in a fourman line behind Romelu Lukaku.
Jesse Lingard almost made it work after three minutes when Hugo Lloris had to be quickly off his line to tackle the England international and generally the Tottenham defence had to keep their wits about them.
If only Jones had done the same in the 28th minute. Kieran Trippier’s cross was dangerous enough, but the hapless way the United centre-back sliced the ball into his own net unfortunately typified the sort of needless calamity that seems to have dogged his stuttering career.
By now Tottenham tails were up and Alli thought he had a good shout for a penalty when Antonio Valencia clattered into him although TV replays hinted the United skipper may just have taken the ball. Certainly referee Andre Marriner thought so. Right on halftime, Kane left his marker to reach a straightforward free-kick and force another save from De Gea.
Half-time could not come quick enough for Jones, who by this stage had also been booked.
By no means as explosively, Tottenham nevertheless began the second period on the front foot too with Kane and Heung-Min Son both going close.
The home side looked comfortable in their role as leaders. Despite a miserable overall record against United they had won their last two home games against them and were beginning to look a good bet to make it three in a row for the first time for over 50 years.
United are not without their bite, of course, and Lukaku forced Lloris into a sharp reaction save with a shot in the 56th minute.
Mourinho needed to make changes and the United boss went for a ‘big and small’
change by throwing on Fellaini and Juan Mata with Paul Pogba surprisingly one of the casualties.
Still it was Tottenham who looked the more dangerous, with Eriksen flashing a longrange shot inches wide.
Then in the 69th minute Son went clean through only to hit his shot straight at De Gea.
Mourinho was incensed – although what Fellaini had done to deserve his prompt withdrawal was anybody’s guess. It had been a tepid display by the entire team.
TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Lloris 7; Trippier 7, Sanchez 6, Vertonghen 7, Davies 6; Dier 6, Dembele 7 (Wanyama 90); Eriksen 8, Alli 7 (Sissoko 88), Son 7 (Lamela 80); Kane 7.
Booked: Dembele, Alli. Goals: Eriksen 1, Jones og 28. NEXT UP: Liverpool (a), Sun PL.
MAN UTD (4-3-3): De Gea 7; Valencia 6, Smalling 5, Jones 4, Young 5; Matic 6, Pogba 5 (Mata 63, 5), Lingard 7 (Fellaini 63; Herrera 70); Sanchez 5, Lukaku 6, Martial 5. Booked: Jones, Young.
NEXT UP: Huddersfield (h), Sat PL. Referee: A Marriner (West Midlands).